The Wizards could be getting an incredible upgrade on Wednesday. Rumors have spiraled on social media regarding Rutgers star forward Ace Bailey amid his potential fall in the draft, with reports that he has no interest in playing for the Charlotte Hornets or Utah Jazz and that he has cancelled his workout with the Philadelphia 76ers.
This has led to speculation on social media that he may be trying to force his way to either the Washington Wizards or the Brooklyn Nets. Both teams are in the midst of a full-swing rebuild and have the flexibility to give Bailey a large role from day one. The projected lottery pick’s camp has made it clear that he wants to play for a team that can set him up for success. One of the two rumored teams fits that bill better than the other.
With no clear offensive star beyond Jordan Poole, the Washington Wizards are in desperate need of a player who can generate offense. This is exactly what has been advertised for Ace Bailey, providing a long-term scoring solution for the Wizards while simultaneously providing the 6-10 forward with the big role he covets.
More reps in a controlled system should give Bailey every opportunity to become the best version of himself on a rising team in the Eastern Conference. He would be given the leeway to learn what shots work for him and which shots don’t while adding strength to his frame.
The Wizards also boast one of the best tools available for a player like Bailey, one of the league’s premier developmental coaches in Brian Keefe. Keefe has worked with Kevin Durant and Brandon Ingram, two players commonly brought up as player comparisons for the 18-year-old, the former even crediting his former assistant coach with teaching him everything he knows.
The Wizards also have another talented player development coach in Assistant Coach David Vanterpool, who has worked with Damian Lillard and Anthony Edwards.
While the Brooklyn Nets have Jordi Fernandez, who has worked with Nikola Jokic and De’Aaron Fox, the rest of their coaching staff is still largely unproven at the NBA level.
It’s still not clear exactly what will happen with Ace Bailey or the draft picks within the top five selections, but if he is trying to force himself to a later pick, the Washington Wizards are the team most likely to turn him into a star.
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